Contact your Parish Council
Decision details
Sutton Valence Conservation Area - Proposed Extension
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
To seek agreement to the proposed extension to the Sutton Valence Conservation Area was identified as part of the regular review of the conservation area boundary which was undertaken with the conservation area appraisal.
Decision:
That:
1. The extension to the Sutton Valence Conservation Area as set out in the “Sutton Valence Conservation Area Proposed Boundary Alterations (December 2021)” document at Appendix 1 be agreed; and
2. Delegated powers be given to the Head of Development Management to undertake the necessary statutory requirements to implement the agreed boundary changes.
Reasons for the decision:
Sutton Valence was designated in September 1971 and the boundary
has not been reviewed since that time. The records relating to the
designation are no longer available. The existing boundary is shown
on the plan within the supporting document.
This
report has been prepared following the previously approved Sutton
Valence Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2021. The
Appraisal recommended that in due course, consideration should be
given to an extension of the conservation area, to encompass the
outer perimeter of the castle and this is the subject of this
report.
The
proposed extension will add approximately two hectares to the
conservation area. It is the area which it is believed was
contained by the outer curtain wall of the castle with the addition
of the two roads – Tumblers Hill and Baker Lane which have
clearly been dug out and may have been quarries that provided the
stone for the castle. There have been sufficient archaeological
finds to suggest that this is an accurate assessment of the extent
of the castle.
The
existing conservation area incorporates the site of the castle
keep, which is on the extreme southern edge of the site. Its
location within the site is presumably to take advantage, from a
security point of view, of the excellent views over the surrounding
area that its elevation at the top of the ridge would give. There
are two buildings within the area of the proposed
extension. These are the Old Parsonage
which is now a private house, and Tumblers Plat which is
an modest house from the second half of
the 20th century. There is also a historic garden associated with
the Old Parsonage and this is referenced in the Kent Historic
Gardens Compendium as being of national significance.
Primarily however the extension is to protect what may prove to
be a very important area of archaeological interest. It has yet to be fully investigated but traces of
other buildings and the outer curtain wall warrant that the site
should be protected.
The
consideration for the Council as the Local Planning Authority is as
per para 191 of the NPPF, which states:
191. When considering
the designation of conservation areas, local planning authorities
should ensure that an area justifies such status because of its
special architectural or historic interest, and that the concept of
conservation is not devalued through the designation of areas that
lack special interest.
It is considered that the information provided within the Sutton Valence Conservation Area Proposed Boundary Alterations Dec 2021, provides sufficient details to meet this requirement.
Pursuant to s.69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (“1990 Act”) the Council, as the local planning authority, is under a duty (from time to time) to review the conservation area. Pursuant to s.70(5) of the 1990 Act the Council must give notice of any variation to the conservation area to the Secretary of State and Historic England. Pursuant to s.70(8) such notice of any variation, with particulars of its effect, must be published in the London Gazette and in at least one newspaper circulating in the area of the Council, by the Council.
The matter was considered by the Planning Infrastructure and Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee on 8 November 2023 with a recommendation made to approve the report recommendations.
Alternative options considered:
Option 2 – To not approve the report’s recommendations. If not approved there is a risk that harm to the archaeology of the castle site could be occur as it would not be protected by Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990.
This option was rejected as the proposed expansion of the conservation area was subject to public consultation and the majority of respondents supported the proposal.
Wards Affected: Sutton Valence and Langley Ward;
Consultees
Rob Jarman; Cllr Paul Cooper; SV Parish
Council & Public
Contact: Janice Gooch Email: JaniceGooch@Maidstone.gov.uk.
Publication date: 16/11/2023
Date of decision: 09/11/2023
Effective from: 17/11/2023
Accompanying Documents: